COURSES |
| What will I learn? |
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As time passes since I began this journey of teaching
whole foods cooking, I have become aware of so much conflicting
information regarding "proper nutrition" and what is
really healthy for each unique person.
Some of the issues causing mass confusion that arise in every
course are:
- Should I stay away from all grains; what is the difference between
whole grains and refined carbohydrates?
- Should I eat carbohydrates? Some books say that carbohydrates
turn into sugar in the system and should be minimized. What is
a complex carbohydrate?
- What is appropriate salt use? Some say don't use any salt, or
is some quality sea salt necessary
in our diets and why?
- Is gluten always bad for me? What is the problem with wheat
and other glutinous grains anyway?
If I am gluten sensitive what can I eat instead?
- Where do we get our calcium if we don't eat dairy?
- Is meat always bad for me? I seem to need some for energy?
- What about sweets? Are the healthy sweeteners such as rice syrup,
maple syrup or dried & fresh fruit allowed
as much as we like or should they be used in moderation?
- What about soy - some recent information puts down the soybean
and soyfoods?
- I feel confused about the issue of raw food vs cooked food?
Is one better or is there a way
to achieve balance with both?
 These
are indicative of the many questions that come up for people making
a dietary transition, and to further explain the type of information
covered in the basic course taught at The Great Life Cooking School.
The macrobiotic approach to life is more than just diet...it is
looking at balance on many levels in one's lifestyle: Eating when
hungry, drinking when thirsty, resting when tired, balancing work
with relaxation, exercise with rest, socializing with solitude.
Many of us are caught up in a hectic lifestyle and know now
that it is the time to address our eating and cooking habits. We
know intuitively that it is time to get this area of our life on
track. Fortunately as this aligns many other things do as well.
It is balance on all levels.
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 My
aim in these courses is to ignite your spark for making a move towards
balance and to learn to cook these vibrant and vital whole foods
that are given to us by nature whole grains, vegetables, sea vegetables,
beans and more... The goal is to gain a practical understanding
of how to transform these foods into delicious and balanced meals
leading to a new beginning towards health and vibrancy.
Through making the transition to whole foods, your
own body and intuition will tell you moment-to-moment what are the
right food choices for you. Understanding whole foods and how to
cook them is the first step!
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| Who should take these courses? |
- Anyone who is interested in recovering their intuition and common
sense knowledge about what to eat & how to cook to create
health and happiness.
- Anyone who is currently eating a healthy diet but would like
to expand on steamed veggies and rice to make whole foods
delicious and varied.
- Anyone who has signs of low energy, lethargy or yo-yo mood swings,
and they sense that it is due to an unbalanced diet.
- Anyone who has been diagnosed with some 21st century dis-ease
and wants to begin the journey toward self-healing recognizing
that diet is one important part of the big picture.
- Anyone who is a carer/cook for someone on a special diet (i.e.
low-fat, diabetic, Pritikin, etc.) and would like to expand their
cooking expertise.
- Anyone who would like to have some fun experimenting with new
tastes and new foods in a playful yet informative way.
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| BASIC
WHOLE FOODS / MACROBIOTIC COOKING - 6 weeks |
In this course, we will cover the
basic foods of macrobiotic cooking and different ways of preparing
them. This includes grains, vegetables, beans, soy products i.e.
tofu , tempeh and miso, sea vegetables, sourdough bread, soups and
naturally sweetened desserts.
We will also learn about the yin/yang qualities
of different foods in order to balance them for optimum health of
body/mind and moods.
We will learn to make a wide variety of grains,
land and sea vegetables, sourdough bread and sourdough pancakes,
tofu patties, delicious soups using miso, Mexican Beans, Chickpea
Pate, Cous-cous Cake with Fruit Sauce and Apricot Mousse to name
a few, plus several healing drinks. We will have a yummy meal, naturally,
at the end of each class. |
 The
course runs once a week for 6 weeks and each class lasts
3 hours.
The cost for the six weeks is $360.
All ingredients will be organic and bio-dynamic
unless unavailable. You will need to bring a bread tin for one of
the lessons. You will also receive a notebook of notes and approximately
120 recipes.
Basic Course Dates:
MARCH 13-APRIL 17TH
SATURDAY MORNINGS 9:30am-12:30pm
COST: $360
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FROM SAD TO GLAD
- 12 weeks
SAD = Standard Australian Diet, GLAD = Great Life Australian Diet |
 An
invitation to a transformational 12-week journey.
We will combine a 4-week transitional period into
whole foods, 4 weeks on a personalized macrobiotic healing/centering
diet and another 4 weeks integrating and returning to the standard
macrobiotic way of eating that is comfortable for you. Careful instruction
in cooking, meal planning, food selection as well as guidance in
lifestyle changes based on ancient eastern principles of balance,
harmony & simplicity. There will also be an initial consultation
with each participant. It is not necessary to have completed the
basic course, however it is helpful. Some people will find they
want a longer time of learning, support and practice and can enter
directly into this process. |
| This course is designed for: |
 those
who have been dabbling in whole foods but are now ready to create
a solid foundation of balanced, healthy eating - those who are dealing with any degenerative health condition
and want to make a transition quickly and effectively
- those who are dealing with overloaded systems whether it manifests
as excess weight or excess symptoms i.e. hayfever, allergies,
digestive problems etc.
- those who want to learn to cook in the most simple and natural
way without the need for excessive salt, oils or spices to create
the most delicious, nutritious food ever!
- those who have completed Sahaja's basic course but want a more
comprehensive experience of macrobiotic diet and lifestyle
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This course costs $890 and includes an initial
consultation with Sahaja. A consultation form must be filled out
to attend the course, as well as keeping a food diary for a week
prior to the session.
It runs for 3 hours once a week for 12 weeks. Ongoing notes and
recipes are provided.
Follow-up dinners have been known to happen, organized by the students
to keep up the support and comraderie that was established during
the course.
For reflections of the first SAD to GLAD course
(from Newsletter Spring 2005) click
here...
SAD to GLAD Dates:
MARCH 31st, 2010
WEDNESDAY NIGHTS 6-9pm
COST: $890
If you want to register your interest for this couse next year,
let me know. I will ask for a $100 deposit to hold your place.
Group limited to 10 people.
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Wow, what a ride it has been! Thank
you SOOO much for running the SAD to GLAD. Both Jen and I thought you
did a fantastic job. There is no question you put your heart and soul
into it and therefore your love of macrobiotics was immediately contagious.
No question we learned a lot about cooking and ate a lot of delicious
AND nutritious food - but most importantly we learned so much more than
we could have imagined about life and ourselves. It really was not just
a "cooking" course but a "life" course. The course
has inspired us to build a healthier life around the principles of macrobiotics.
It is 8:29am and we have already had a serving of greens this morning
(bok choy) and packed some brussel sprouts for lunch. I would have never
imagined.....
You have also inspired me to want to build a career around healthy cooking
and sharing my love of it with others. I can only imagine how you felt
last night listening to how you had positively impacted all of our lives
in only a few weeks. That must be a great feeling and I would love to
someday do something similar for people.
I found many aspects
of the course useful. The food was wonderful, and I enjoyed the
planned menus. Each week there were actual dishes that we had made
in the class that I could repeat at home. It was inspiring to hear
other people's healing journeys and to get feedback each week related
to issues or questions that came up during the week. Sahaja was
a warm, inspiring and professional facilitator.
More comments on the
SAD to GLAD course...
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| GATHERING
IN THE GREAT LIFE - 3rd sunday of each month 3-5pm |
We are now offering a 2-hour
gathering once a month - the 3rd Sunday of each month from 3-5pm
to support friends, clients, students, fellow travellers on this
journey called life. There is an awakening consciousness happening
on this earth right now. The numbers of people drawn to eating
wholesome food, Journey work, meditation, qi gong, yoga, natural
forms of medicine are increasing - anything that helps
the body and being find balance naturally is aiding in this awakening
of consciousness.
This is an opportunity to meet, to gather in
this Great Life and BE in the present moment, to rest in this
awareness of the NOW. There will be a short guided meditation,
a spontaneous
talk of a spiritual nature and opportunities to bring up issues
and concerns, challenges in life and shine the light of awareness
on what comes up on the day.
All is welcome here.
An opportunity to come together with like-minded souls,interested
in diving into Truth, into The Great Life,
melting into the presence and the love that we are.
All is welcome here.
Bring your silence, bring your joy, bring your fears, bring your
tears.
All is welcome here.
Sitting silently, asking questions, sharing, insights, opening
into this vast spacious awareness that we are
and allowing it to guide the gatherings
 DECEMBER
20TH,
2009
2:45pm doors open for a 3pm start
VENUE: BEELIAR WETLANDS CENTRE
Hope Road, Bibra Lake
(runs off Bibra Dr. which runs off Farrington - take Farrington exit on Kwinana
Freeway
A beautiful spot immersed in nature: our very own Great Life!
Please phone Sahaja or Franco on
9414 9992 to book in
$15 donation
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| SEASONAL SUMMER
COOKING MORNING IN BYRON BAY! |
 Sahaja
will be in Byron Bay to teach a half day of the most delicious
summer salads and cooking styles. The menu includes a quinoa tabouleh,
a mediterranean brown rice salad with olives and sun-dried tomatoes
and herbs and more, a big organic leafy green salad with mustard
vinaigrette, her legendary chickpea salad with mustard tahini dressing
and a beautiful strawberry custard using agar and kuzu and organic
juice. Please text or call me on 0401 154 903 if you would like
to join this morning. Venue in a delightful holiday house across
from the Green Garage.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13TH
9am-12:30pm
COST: $75 |
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| POTLUCK MEALS
- Spontaneous |
 An
opportunity to come and share a meal with others making the change
to healthy eating. Potlucks are traditional in macrobiotic communities
all over the world, and we are starting our own traditions here
in West Australia. It's a lovely opportunity to sample a variety
of tasty dishes and each person prepares only one dish.
There is the opportunity to share experiences with others, browse
through the library of books and have a celebration of whole and
natural foods. |
|  Sometimes
people feel quite alone on their journey towards healthy eating
- what does that say about the society we live in right now? An
opportunity to see that you are not alone in your commitment to
change is always supportive and inspiring.
It is necessary to book in as each person will be given a category
from which to choose his dish i.e. a bean or a grain or a vegetable
dish. That way we are guaranteed to get a wide variety and not just
a table of noodle puddings (although that might not be too bad!)
TBA |
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